Caerhun

Nearest town: Bangor

Site type: churchyard

Access: Public

Church name: St Mary

Diocese: Bangor

County: Conwy

Country: Wales

Grid ref: SH77687039

Lost yew site: No

Date visited: 9-Apr-98

Recorded by: Tim Hills

Protection & responsibility: Church in Wales

Yews recorded at this site: Ancient 5m-7m

Notes: The site is shared with the Roman fort called Canovium. In addition to the two ancient trees, a further 6 younger yews were noted. In Richard Fenton's 1804/1813 Tours in Wales, published in 1917, is the following description of his visit to Caer Rhun: "A little above Erwgaer stands the parish church. In the churchyard are three very large Yew Trees all sound and vigorous, particularly the one to the south of the entrance porch which measured in girth 17 feet, the spread of its branches forming a circle whose diameter cannot be less than 60 feet, the largest tree of the kind I ever saw in so healthy and flourishing a state, with no hollow or other visible symptoms of decay; notwithstanding it is probable that it may be coeval with Rhun's new work, and was at his consecration, who is reported to be founder of the Church. Such is the acknowledged slowness of that tree to arrive at maturity, and its longevity after."

Site files:

Caerhun-2019.pdf